SKU: 31003508376

A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages: J.R.R. Tolkien

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A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages: J.R.R. Tolkien*UNSIGNED* J. R. R. Tolkiens linguistic invention was a fundamental part of his artistic output, to the extent that later on in life he attributed the existence of his mythology to the desire to give his languages a home and peoples to speak them. As Tolkien puts it in A Secret Vice, the making of language and mythology are related functions. In the 1930s, Tolkien composed and delivered two lectures, in which he explored these two key elements of his

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J.R.R. Tolkien’s linguistic invention was a fundamental part of his artistic output, to the extent that later on in life he attributed the existence of his mythology to the desire to give his languages a home and peoples to speak them. As Tolkien puts it in ‘A Secret Vice’, ‘the making of language and mythology are related functions’.

In the 1930s, Tolkien composed and delivered two lectures, in which he explored these two key elements of his sub-creative methodology. The second of these, the seminal Andrew Lang Lecture for 1938–9, ‘On Fairy-Stories’, which he delivered at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, is well known. But many years before, in 1931, Tolkien gave a talk to a literary society entitled ‘A Hobby for the Home’, where he unveiled for the first time to a listening public the art that he had both himself encountered and been involved with since his earliest childhood: ‘the construction of imaginary languages in full or outline for amusement’.

This talk would be edited by Christopher Tolkien for inclusion as ‘A Secret Vice’ in The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays and serves as the principal exposition of Tolkien’s art of inventing languages. This new critical edition, which includes previously unpublished notes and drafts by Tolkien connected with the essay, including his ‘Essay on Phonetic Symbolism’, goes some way towards re-opening the debate on the importance of linguistic invention in Tolkien’s mythology and the role of imaginary languages in fantasy literature.

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SKU: 31003508376

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4.6 ★★★★★
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The Rebecca Review
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect for Husbands but Wives may Enjoy Reading it Too!
For a long time I've wondered what my love language is in particular because they all sound good to me. I love receiving stuffed animals from my husband so maybe it is gifts. But then I also adore undivided attention when we watch movies nearly every night, so maybe it is quality time. When my husband empties the dishwasher that is good so maybe it is acts of service. Well how about a compliment, that is nice too. I think I'm greedy, I want it all. lol So don't think your wife will only like just one love language. Maybe she wants touch, quality time and acts of service too. This book explains what the typical differences are in what men and women want in regards to love languages. It also wisely explains how to apologize to a woman in a sincere way that will make her melt. It deals with anger and women want less of that! At the end of the book there are two tests, one for him, one for her. You can then figure out what each other's love languages are. As the books says, sometimes you are bilingual. Also there are various dialects. This book also makes you realize why sometimes the love language works and at other times it does not get the points you think you are getting. Like when a woman is really busy, some things mean more than others. While she's in the kitchen she might want help with the kids instead of touch or when she is feeling down she might want a compliment to make her feel appreciated. So I think learn all the love languages and use them wisely. I'm a fan! Any man who adds these languages to his skill set is going to be way more desired than usual. Women pay attention and this is a way of getting your point across. Oh and at the end of the chapters there is an easy "phrase book" so you get tips on specific things you can do to speak each language. I'm giving this book to my husband and I really hope he reads it! I'm also happy I read it because I've got myself more figured out. To my husband I say more love languages please!!!! ~The Rebecca Review
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Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2024
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Gloria Muniz
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Good book
Good book
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2026
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Paul T. Garrido
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Well written and eye opening
This book is easy to read and easy to comprehend. The writing is attractive and helps the reader understand with ease the challenges and difficulties in relationships with their significant other and or other people in their lives. After reading this, I believe love is perception based and it is a matter of just changing how you see things to understand and feel loved. The part that hit close to home for me was in the end where a man who had gone to prison had wrote the author to tell how he had never felt love from his mother but after reading the book, realized she had loved him all along but not in a language he spoke and it wasn't until he was about to be locked away from her that she spoke to him in the language of touch and opened his mind. It brought tears to my eyes because I identified myself with that man having that internal struggle When Love Was there all along. Love is the motivating factor in practically all of our life decisions. With it, we feel we can conquer the world and without it we feel abandoned and scared. It is all a matter of perception. Love yourself, love your family, love your friends, and all those that are close to you and unknown to you and the world is not such a scary place after all. This book is definitely going to be on the top of my shelf.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2018
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Roy
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
A quick and interesting read. It may help you broaden your horizons with relationships!
There is no real difference in terms of what you will take away from this book if you already read the original. This book gives you some manly homework, some insight into conflicts with perspectives that I did not think of. Suffice it to say, reading this book helped me grow as a person and helped with my relationship. You come out on top as a man since this book helps keep your cool. Basically what I'm trying to say is: If you never read any Love Language book and you want a more man-centric read. Get this and live it.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2017
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Michelle Hood
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Cute
A great book about how we all have different love languages.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2026

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